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A lot of Professionals really want to work in close protection. Here’s your ‘Intro’ starting off article.

This help will give you with all the knowledge you need to be able to build your own educated mind on the following challenges.

§ What exactly close protection is, and what kind of professional you need to be;
§ The two primary situations for close protection;
§ How much education and permits you will require to work in close protection;

What is Close Protection? and Do you shape up?

To start with, close protection is definitely not what you are directed to imagine from watching films like James Bond or The Bodyguard. Nor is it similarly to a real life ‘Vinnie Jones’ type motion picture character, portrayed as ‘tough, hard and quick with his hands’. After all, do you know what being ‘hard’ really is? It is not just about ‘knocking people out’, and If this is the kind of work you’re hunting for, then close protection is quite possibly not for you. If you are, in spite of this, more interested with displaying high levels of customer focus and favor prevention rather than cure, then you stand a stronger chance of fitting in and doing well. Those types who may be highly aggressive and find it testing to control their tempers and hostility may find it difficult to fit into close protection as this is far from the individual type demanded. You may well be needed to get physical, but you will be held accountable for your decisions and actions and you will be expected to act within the law all of the time.

In order to become successful in the world of close protection, you need to be focused on assisting other people (your principle and your associates), happy to put your client, ie the principle, before yourself, and when needed, to place oneself at risk in order to deflect the danger from the principle and to do so as low key as possible. You need to be a decent communicator and have high levels of tolerance and perseverance. Other personality traits desired are logical and strategic thinking as you will be counted upon to be able to select a threat, dynamically risk assess that risk, and then choice the most adequate level of control to mitigate that particular risk.

Close Protection is focused on allowing the principle to lead a normal life. You are therefor a reason, and in some cases, from the perspective of the principle, you are an infringement and a reminder of the dangers (sincere or not) within their lives. Work will be thankless. Your plan is to deter conflict and to continue to be incognito (where needed), which allows the principle to carry on their life as close to normal as accomplishable. You will probably not achieve the hyped-up levels of pay you might read about (or wonder if you will get), most notably when you start out. Your first job will in all probability not be in direct contact with a principle either, rather more of a baby-sitting mission protecting a residency or a store, taking care of people enjoying themselves (if anybody else is around), expected to stay conscientious and willing to act after 12hrs on task. For this, you should expect to be remunerated in the range of £100 to £200 per session.

Everyone will be required to have a suitable level of physical fitness, to be courteous and resilient, to be an wonderful communicator, and extremely reliable and trustworthy with a high level of integrity. But not only are these important for your actual job so to speak, but also in finding work. Be warned, a large percentage of of your future work will not be seen on job boards like Monster etc, but will be gained from networking. You can already make the connection between the communication skills I formerly mentioned and your integrity as a effective link to winning employment. Various deployments that you gain selection for as you start out may only be ‘day work’ or if you’re fortunate, a couple of days of work.

Still reading? Good. Let’s continue.

Environments of Close Protection:

Executive Protection

This, in comparison with Hostile Environment Protection, is a reduced risk area of work. It typically comprises of protecting high level business people and celebs whilst at work and on travel. Your task is to mix. You will be asked to offer security discreetly and, for those individuals working in the UK, you will not be armed.
It should go without saying that good good manners are a must. You will invariably come into contact with your principle’s peers and will therefore represent them when interacting. You will be expected to allow and facilitate the principle to carry on as normal and go unseen.

Hostile Environment Protection

This, in contrast, is thought of as high risk. This is where you operate in a hostile environment. At present, this would include, but not be limited to, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. A large number of Close Protection Officers (or Operatives) have Military backgrounds with a minimum of 5 to 10 years service. This particular is based primarily on the ability to handle firearms and carry out and respond under Quick Reaction Drills without the need of the need for large-scale training. This is not something that a short course can give you – many military personnel have been thoroughly trained and have operated in these circumstances before.
The significant difference is weapons. It should therefore be noted that you may be able to operate as a ‘non military’ operative in the United States. You might find, however, that those picking staff within UK based employers are most probably to be ex-military themselves and will ultimately find themselves looking for other ex-military members out of confidence and understanding of skill sets and abilities.

Training and Licences needed:

The activities of providing Close Protection is regulated. You will be required, in addition to any expert training program, to hold a Close Protection SIA (Security Industry Authority) permit for any work within the UK or for a UK operating company. The cost of the licence application as of 2012 is around £250 and is valid for three years. You should know that this fee is for the application and is not refundable.
You might be able to claim a tax refund on part of the fee (around £44). More information can be commonly found on the HMRC website here.

“A Close Protection licence is required when guarding one or more individuals against assault or against injuries that might be suffered in consequence of the unlawful conduct of others. This applies if your services are supplied for the purposes of or in connection with any contract to a consumer.” SIA Website

The permit has a range of requirements;

§ You are 18 year of age or older;
§ Pass an Identity Check;
§ Pass a Criminal Record Check (CRB);
§ Attended an approved Close Protection Training Course and achieved an approved Qualification;
§ The Qualification required is a Level 3 in Close Protection. The guided hours of training are 146hrs (138hrs in Close Protection and 8hrs in Conflict Management).
§ You are required to also hold a valid First Aid certificate (First Aid at work)

Currently there are quite a lot of UK based organisations producing this training course for individuals. You are warned to look into the organisation itself and those who run it. The training is only as good as the coaches, and some are better than others, but that is a whole other article on its own. Expect to pay about £1700 plus travel, and expect about 4 to 6 weeks of course depending on the content.

Various individuals looking to work in close protection may also hold an exemption from the training course (basically as you have done a similar course already). Some of these are SAS Body Guard Course, RMP CP Course, Met or Special Branch Royal or Close Protection Course or Police National Close Protection Course. You will be required to undergo an assessment of skills and must have passed your previous employment course inside the last three years.